tapiado
/tapjado/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'boarded up' is translated into Spanish as tapiado.
The term refers to a window, door or building that has been covered with wooden planks to seal it. The related verb tapiar is used to describe the specific action of boarding up an opening or an entire structure.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word tapiado is the past participle of the verb tapiar, used here as an adjective. If you are describing a masculine plural noun like los locales (the premises), you must use the form tapiados.
How do you pronounce it?
/tapjado/
Did you know?
- The word tapia comes from the Arabic word ṭabīʿa, reflecting the deep influence of Moorish architecture and building techniques on the Spanish language.
- While tapiado translates to 'boarded up', it often describes walls made of tapia, which is a traditional rammed earth or clay mixture rather than just wood.
- The word tapiar shares a linguistic root with the word tapón, which means 'plug' or 'stopper', suggesting the core concept is not just about boards but about creating a complete seal.
Examples in context
- La tienda fue cerrada con tablonesThe store was boarded up
- La casa fue tapada con maderasThe house was boarded up
- El local está cerrado con tablasThe shop is boarded up with planks
- Debido a los disturbios, el banco fue cerrado con tablonesDue to the riots, the bank was boarded up
- El restaurante tapado con maderas permanecerá cerrado esta semanaThe restaurant, which is boarded up, will remain closed this week
- No puedo creer que hayan cerrado el cine con tablasI can't believe they boarded up the cinema
- La tienda está tapiada.The shop is boarded up.
- El local está tapiado con madera.The shop is boarded up with wood.
- Vimos un edificio tapiado en la calle.We saw a boarded up building on the street.
- Tuvieron que dejar el almacén tapiado.They had to leave the warehouse boarded up.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are walking through a deserted neighborhood.
- LucíaMira ese edificio, está todo tapiado.Look at that building, it is all boarded up.
- JavierParece que lleva años abandonado.It looks like it has been abandoned for years.
- LucíaEs extraño que esté así en esta calle.It is strange that it's like this on this street.
- JavierQuizás lo van a demoler pronto.Maybe they are going to demolish it soon.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
